Lesson 3 - Chapter 4: Structured Cabling Flashcards
The standards defined by TIA/EIA that determine a functioning network are called what?
structured cabling
What is the idea/purpose of structured cabling?
to create a safe, reliable cabling infrastructure for all interconnected devices
(telephone, videos, computer networks)
An ideal structured cabling setup would have what 3 things?
- Protection from vacuum cleaners, tripping on wires, EMI
- Hardware to organize and protect cabling
- Flexibility to grow according to company’s needs
Successfully implementing a basic structured cabling network requires what 3 essential ingredients?
- a telecommunications room
- horizontal cabling
- a work area
(basic star network)
All cables from the telecommunications room to the workstations run in what direction for the most part?
horizontal
(called horizontal cabling)
A single piece of installed horizontal cabling is called what?
a run
(“running” the cable along the ceiling)
What is a work area?
Often an office or cubicle with a workstation and telephone
In most modern networks, what Cat cable is used for the horizontal run cabling?
Cat 6 or better
The TIA/EIA standards define a number of other aspects of horizontal cabling such as these 3 things:
- type of wires
- number of pairs of wires
- fire ratings
All UTP cables come in 1 or 2 types. What are they and describe them.
- Solid core (single solid wire)
- Stranded core (each wire is a bundle of tiny wire strands)
stranded core = looks like a broom
Out of solid core and stranded core, which is the better conductor? Which will handle more rough play without breaking?
Solid core = better conductor, but can break if handled roughly
Stranded core = can handle more rough handling without breaking
TIA/EIA specifies that horizontal cabling should always be which UTP type?
Should always be solid core
(because this wire is going into the walls and ceilings, safe from damage)
The central component of every telecommunications room is what?
One or more equipment racks
What’s an equipment rack?
provides a safe, stable platform for all various hardware components
(like a bookshelf for books)
All equipment racks are ___ inches wide
19 inches wide
(and their heights vary, can be on a wall or floor to ceiling)
All rack-mounted equipment uses a height measurement known as? What is that height measurement?
U
a U = 1.75 inches
1 device fits into a U space of 1.75 inches = 1U
1 device needs 3.5 inches = 2U
1 device needs 7 inches = 4U
(1U, 2U, 4U are most common sizes)
You can avoid having to re-arrange UTP horizontal solid core cabling on a switch (for example) and risking breakage by using what?
a patch panel
(connect the horizontal cabling to the permanent cable area in the back of it)
What’s a patch panel? What does it have in the front and the back?
A box with a row of female connectors (ports) in the front and permanent connections in the back (for horizontal cabling)
The most common type of patch panel today uses what special type of connector?
110 block (or called 110-punchdown block)
UTP cables connect to a 110 block using what tool?
a punchdown tool
Patch panels come in a wide variety such as (3) with ___ ports
UTP, STP, or fiber ports (or a mix) with 8-48+ ports
Do UTP patch panels come with Cat ratings too?
Yes! Always get a matching Cat cable and Cat patch panel (Cat 6 cable with Cat 6 patch panel)
[some higher-rated panels support earlier Cat cable standards ie Cat 6 patch with Cat 5e cabling]
What cable do you use to connect patch panel ports to the switch?
patch cables (with a stranded core so you can remove patch cable repeatedly)
What type of cables are patch cables?
short UTP cables (2-5 feet) with stranded core
